1. Mining and Mineral Resources
Chapter 16

2. Minerals and Mineral Resources
Mineral- a naturally occurring, usually inorganic solid that has a specific chemical composition and structure
Compounds- two or more atoms chemically bonded together
Native elements- minerals of only one type of element (i.e. gold, silver, copper)

3. Minerals and Mineral resources

4. Mineral and Mineral Resources
Ore Minerals- minerals with economic value
Metallic minerals- conduct electricity, have shiny surfaces, opaque
Nonmetallic minerals- good insulators, dull surfaces, allow light to pass through them
Gangue minerals- minerals with no economic value

5. Minerals and Mineral Resources
How do ore minerals form?
Hydrothermal solutions- produce veins of minerals in cracks in rock from dissolved minerals moving with water in the earth’s crust.
Evaporites- surface water evaporates and leaves behind dissolved minerals.

6. Minerals and Mineral Resources
Many minerals have high economic and commercial value
Metallic Minerals
Alloys- combination or 2 or more minerals
Nonmetallic minerals
Gypsum used in construction
Gemstones- highly valued for beauty.

7. Mineral exploration and Mining
Mineral deposits- usually have times the normal concentration of a mineral
Aerial images, radioactivity data, magnetic data, satellite data are used to help locate possible mining sites
Drill core samples are used to “see” what is actually below ground

8. Mineral Exploration and Mining
Subsurface mining- used to reach minerals 50 m of more below the earth’s surface
Room and pillar mining- rooms are dug into the horizontal vein but some of the mineral is left in the form of a pillar to hold up the roof of the mine.
Longwall mining- used to shear the mineral from one wall. The roof behind the machinery is allowed to collapse after everyone is clear.
Solution mining- hot water is injected into the earth to dissolve minerals that will go into solution and then pumped back out fo the ground.

9. Mineral Exploration and Mining
Surface Mining-
Open pit mining